Gwangju vs. FC Seoul Recap

FC Seoul traveled to Gwangju looking to take three points and climb the table. However, the game ended one all and Seoul was lucky not to have lost, as Gwangju created the better chances throughout the game, especially in the first half. Still, on a day when the top two teams (Jeonbuk and Suwon) suffered shocks, a point gained is better than three lost.

Seoul set out with the same formation as they did on Tuesday, three in the back (Lee Woong Hee, Osmar, and Kim Nam Choon), two wingbacks (Go Gwang Min, Kim Chi Woo), three in the midfield (Go Yo Han, newcomers Kim Min Hyeok and Park Young Woo), and Kim Hyun Sung up front. Molina had a free role, wandering around the pitch with no set position. Kim Jin Gyu and Yun Il Lok were on the bench while Go Myeong Jin was not even included in the substitutes.

The first twenty minutes were uneventful, with Seoul creating some half chances and Gwangju defending well. In the 18th minute, the best chance of the game came as a horrible pass from the right sideline by a Seoul player (Go Gwang Min maybe) to Kim Min Hyeok was intercepted by a Gwangju player and played forward to Fabio. Fabio took a touch but was smothered by the goal keeper Yoo Sang Hoon, who did well to come off his line.

Unfortunately, a Gwangju goal came in the 22nd minute. Lee Jong Min played a wonderful ball over the top for Cho Yong Tae to run onto. He knocked it down, but his shot hit the post. He did well to recover and pass to the left for Fabio to knock into an empty net, with Yoo Sang Hoon being out of position from the shot rebounding off the post.

Afterwards, Seoul pushed for an equalizer and it came in the 40th minute. A ball was put into the box by Go Gwang Min, headed backwards and across the goal by a Gwangju player. It fell to Kim Chi Woo, who put a hard cross back into the box for Go Yo Han to knock in. It was not the greatest goal and Gwangju could feel aggrieved to have given it up, but they did not mope as Fabio should have scored again in the 42nd minute.

FC Seoul was having difficulty with Fabio throughout the first half with his runs behind their defense. It seems as though this player gives the Seoul defense fits. Sandro always seems to have good games against Seoul and he is a similar player.

The second half began with Kim Jin Gyu being subbed on for Kim Nam Hoon. I do not think it was an injury substitution, so it must have been Choi’s unhappiness with Seoul’s defensive performance. The goal did come on Kim Nam Hoon’s side and Osmar being in the middle wasn’t working, so maybe Choi decided to bring in a Kim Jin Gyu to help steady the defense. Unfortunately, in the sixth minute Kim Jin Gyu sustained an injury and had to be removed. He was replaced by Everton and Seoul shifted their formation.

Not much else happened in the second half. Kim Hyun Sung got a bloody lip and Osmar was off the field for ten minutes receiving treatment on a bloody nose sustained when he was trying to score on a header. Gwangju had a couple of good chances and Seoul remained dormant until the last fifteen minutes. In the 4th minute of injury time, Molina could have won the game on a header, but hit it weakly right to the keeper.

Seoul’s performance was not great and they were probably lucky to get a point. This was typical of Seoul’s performances since 2014. There was a lot of huffing and puffing but not much blowing of houses down and no real since of urgency until they went down 1-0 and in the final 10 minutes of the match. This really is a match that Seoul should win if they want to be considered contenders. They also really needed to take these three points to begin climbing the table. The wheat will eventually begin to separate from the chaff and not every season will Seoul have a miracle climb. Next week, fingers crossed, Seoul might score TWO goals.

Player Ratings

Yoo Sang Hoon, 7: Made some saves, maybe he could have done better on the goal, but hard to fault him.

Lee Woong Hee, 5: Had a couple of WTF moments, but didn't lead to any goals.

Osmar, 5.5: Played a role in Gwangju's goal, caught out a few times in the 1st half. Had a good header in the 2nd half and a busted nose.

Kim Nam Chun, 3.5: Culpable for Gwangu's goal, subbed after halftime.

Go Gwang Min, 4: Made a terrible pass that almost led to goal in the 18th minute. Let a corner kick clearance bounce that could have been a goal.

Kim Chi Woo, 7: Probably Seoul's best player. He got up and down the pitch and put the cross in that resulted in a goal.

Go Yo Han, 6.5: Scored a goal. Put in an industrious effort.

Kim Hyeok Min, 5: Cannot remember much about his game. Had a couple of nice dribble turns though.

Park Young Woo, 5: Even more anonymous than Kim Hyeok Min.

Molina, 6: Same as Go Yo Han. Put in an industrious effort and it would have been great for him to score. Could have done better with corners and free kicks.

Kim Hyun Sung, 5: Played hard, had a shot on goal, but Seoul needs more from him if they want to compete.

Santos, 5: Ran hard, but seems to be more of a water carrier than an impact player.

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